From left, Elvira, 7, Jessica, 6, and Stormy Ferrel, 4, sign in at the El Dorado Park Recreation Center for a four-hour City of Salinas Parks and Community Services program in which they can use the play facilities under gentle supervision. The center has toys, games, art supplies and sports equipment, and offers free lunch and snacks daily through August 8th. Similar comprehensive summer programs are offered by the city at the Breadbox, Central and Firehouse Recreation Centers, as well as the Hebbron Family Center in Salinas. For more information, visit the Parks and Community Services section of the city's web site at http://www.ci.salinas.ca.us/services/recreation/programs.cfm Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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In full swing on Saturdays at the Constitution Boulevard fields, the Salinas Valley Youth Soccer League is producing some well-versed, very agile young players. Five year-old brother and sister Santiago and Sofia Ruiz play for The Avengers in Salinas. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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In full swing on Saturdays at the Constitution Boulevard fields, the Salinas Valley Youth Soccer League is producing some well-versed, very agile young players. Five year-old brother and sister Santiago and Sofia Ruiz play for The Avengers in Salinas. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Seen recently on Cross Avenue in the Alisal neighborhood, a pink "bouncy house" almost bigger than the host's residence. The multi-colored, popular party fixtures can be seen every weekend somewhere in Salinas, usually with a dedicated tag-team of children happily playing in them. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

On Thursday, June 5th, the last day of classes, Mission Park Elementary School parents and children protested the reassignment of principal Brinet Greenlee with a march to the Salinas City Elementary School District Offices on S. Main St. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Richard Flores likes his "elotes" (corn) with mayo, chile, and cheese after Sunday's services at St. Mary's in Salinas. Jonathan Dueas looks on, as does Desire Flores, at right. They are visiting the weekly Closter Park Family Marketplace for lunch. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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A perfect confluence of light & opportunity on Monday beneath the Hwy 101 bridge along East Alisal Street in Salinas. The multicolored murals on both sides of this busy underpass reflect proud traditions and themes of Salinas' ethnic heritage. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Bubbles of all sizes filled the air on Saturday afternoon during the Salinas Public Library Summer "Paws to Read" Kickoff Carnival at the Cesar Chavez Library in Salinas. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Out enjoying the fresh air on Saturday morning at the Constitution Soccer fields, Amerissa Preciado, 10, takes to heart a saying from Salinas' own Nobel Prize-winner John Steinbeck. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Azalia Custodio, who is Brazilian, reacts to Oscar's stoppage-time goal for Brazil in Thursday's opening World Cup match versus Croatia. Custodio's family came to the new Pizza Factory on Natividad Road in Salinas ready to cheer enthusiastically for the home side, all clad in Brazil's yellow and green uniforms. Brazil won the match 3-1. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Family members and friends surprised Salinas resident Marina Ocampo on her 80th birthday with a traditional "Mariachi Ma?anitas" at her doorstep on Sunday morning. Ocampo is still actively serving the migrant community through the Diocese of Monterey, bringing spiritual and practical support to migrant camps throughout the county. She was an undocumented wife/mother herself in the 50's and 60's, living in a small shack on Rider Avenue in Salinas. She managed to raise seven kids and sent them all to college, later becoming a community leader. For her 28 years of service to the migrant community, Ocampo received the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross" in 2013, the highest honor given to a lay person from the Vatican. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Photographed from the fire escape of the nearby Glikbarg building, a construction worker at the Taylor Building site in Oldtown Salinas is framed by the flag and the star at the top of the National Steinbeck Center. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Friends take a break during the golden hour before sunset by the "botanica" at Center St. and East Market in Salinas. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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A family enjoys clambering over part of Claes Oldenburg's colorful "Hat in Three Stages of Landing" in Sherwood Park in Salinas. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Six-year old Cloy Rosas, right, reads with a friend after "checking out" a Sesame Street book on opening day of Salinas' first Little Library at El Gabilan Park in Salinas. Two more Little Libraries were installed on Wednesday, in Central Park and McKinnon Park, with two more slated to start this summer. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Working in an otherwise completely dark church, handyman Rafael Mora painstakingly refinishes pews at Cristo Rey on Calle Cebu and Sherwood Drive in Salinas. There are two rows of twenty-eight pews at Christ the King. It takes Mora a full day to sand and stain each one by hand. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Emily Jasmine Castro, 2, and her sister Bianca, 14, enjoy a nutritious free lunch on Monday at Cristo Rey Church courtesy of the Salinas City Elementary School District. The program runs from June 9th to August 8th for anyone in the community age 18 and under, and has served healthy food for up to forty young people every day. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Summer school students at Fremont Elementary on Wednesday greet the produce mascots who will be participating in the 4th annual Produce Mascot Race for Fight Hunger Night at the California Rodeo Salinas. Ag Against Hunger provides free leafy greens and strawberries to many schools in Monterey County to help stock their salad bars through their More Produce for Schools program. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

Mexico fans at La Hacienda in Salinas exult at Giovani Dos Santos' opening goal in Sunday's World Cup match against Holland. With only minutes left to go in the game, however, the Dutch scored twice to win the match, dashing Mexico's beautiful dream of advancing. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Gabriela Scaroni, 11, practices her solo routine while coach Linda Aguilar of the California Classics Baton Club looks on. The Salinas group will be sending a five-person team to compete next week at the U.S. National Twirling Championships in Stockton, CA, while seven members will offer individual routines. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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From her pink desk in the shade, Sandra Hernandez, 9, keeps score as little Christian, 4, and Dania, 8, not shown, battle it out on penalty kicks along East Laurel Street in Salinas. World Cup matches this last month have played out on televisions and radios all over the east side, sometimes clearing the streets of traffic and extending lunches long into the afternoon. Sunday's final between Germany and Argentina is sure to draw healthy crowds to local businesses showing the historic matchup. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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In a morning ritual throughout the warmer months in Salinas, Sabino Martinez, left, and Lydia Quintana stock the ice cream pushcarts of vendors working from Paleteria La Mexicana at 734 East Market St. From this tiny hub full of low white freezers, up to a dozen vendors ringing their rack of bells might cover half the city on foot or by bike in a day's work, making very little money but overjoying children and an occasional adult. The symbol on the bell rack is Chinese, and is thought to bring prosperity. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Now that road-building dust has settled somewhat on Espinosa Road and Christensen Road near the 101 in Salinas, these California poppies are thriving. Access-ramp construction to the highway is still proceeding. Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian

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Gael Acosta 5, gets a healthy lunch on Monday at the Hebbron Family Center through a general summer recreation program put on by the City of Salinas Parks and Community Services Department which runs through August 8th. The center offers free lunch and snacks daily, and is a safe, supervised place to play, with toys, games, and sports equipment. Similar comprehensive summer programs are offered by the city at the Breadbox, Central and Firehouse Recreation Centers in Salinas. For more information, visit the Parks and Community Services section of the city's web site at http://www.ci.salinas.ca.us/services/recreation/programs.cfm Jay Dunn/The Salinas Californian